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SLATY-BACKED GULL AT RAINHAM MARSHES,JANUARY 13TH 2011 -- THE FIRST FOR LONDON

———BASED ON THE ACCOUNT BY DOMINIC MITCHELL IN BIRDWATCH MAGAZINE

A SummaryThe discovery and identification of London’s first Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagusby Dominic Mitchell on January 13th 2011 was reported in Birdwatch magazine(Birdwatch 2011). This summary is included to confirm its approval by the BritishOrnithologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) as the first record not only forLondon but also for Britain.

Slaty-backed Gull is a Pacific species. Only one individual has been recordedpreviously in Europe, in both Lithuania (2008) and Latvia (2009). It is the only dark-mantled species within its range and, despite slight variation in its appearance, isclassified as monotypic. An important identification feature in adult-type plumage is theso-called ‘string-of-pearls’ pattern in the mid-primaries (Birdwatch 2011, page 53).

The BOURC stated: “This well-documented record established the identification ofthis individual. Provenance as a wild bird was not an issue as the species is not kept incaptivity and has been found in Europe before, as have a number of other north Pacificseabirds, including gulls, terns, auks and divers, demonstrating that vagrancy from thispart of the world is possible. Thus it was straightforward to accept the species toCategory A. It should be placed after Iceland Gull on the British list.”

The reports in Birdwatch can be read by clicking on the images at:www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?item1104. A full account of thediscovery will be published in due course in the journal British Birds.

ReferencesBirdwatch 248: 52–54. March 2011. London. (Reports)Birdwatch, 248: 57. March 2011. London. (Photo of the Month)British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC): 46th Report (October 2016).

Adult Slaty-backed Gull onthe landfill site nearRainham Marshes, January14th 2011. In total it wasseen by hundreds of birders,and also visited Pitsea andHanningfield, Essex, duringits stay. It was last noted onFebruary 26th 2011.(Dominic Mitchell -www.birdingetc.com)

WHERE TO FIND BIRDS

IN THE REGENT’S PARK

220 LONDON B IRD REPORT NO. 80

Kestrel. (Tony Duckett)

WHERE TO FIND BIRDS IN THE REGENT’S PARK———

TONY DUCKETT

IntroductionThe area that is now The Regent’s Park lay at the southern edge of the ancientMiddlesex Forest until the early 16th century. Then an ageing Henry VIII decided that hewas in need of a hunting area closer to his Palace, so an area of 500 acres namedMarylebone Park was created. On the death of Charles I in 1649 and the seizing of Crownland, major deforestation took place and by the time the Crown was restored very littlewoodland remained. It was in 1811 that the creation of the present-day Regent’s Parkwas undertaken following plans drawn up by John Nash. The only major changes toNash’s original plans were the establishing of the Zoological Gardens (now ZSL) and theBotanical Society which developed the area that is now Queen Mary’s Gardens.

HabitatsThe Park up until the mid-1980s was typical urban parkland, with areas of formalgarden; Queen Mary’s Gardens, Avenue Gardens, English Gardens, St Johns Lodge(Secret Garden) and the flower borders by Clarence Gate. There are two lakes. Boatingis allowed on the first one but rowers are restricted by chains or fencing to about halfof it. The chained-off area gives waterfowl and the occasional wader somewhere toretreat into. The fenced-off sections at the northwest, southeast and northeast arms

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Garganey in May 2009; this birdturned up in April 2009 andstayed throughout the summer.Amazingly, the same birdreturned in April the followingyear. (Tony Duckett)

also act as refuges for the birds on the lake. The northeast area, Longbridge Sanctuary,houses the Park’s ornamental Waterfowl Collection. There are also six islands on thelake, the two on the main part of the lake being home to the Park’s heronry. The secondand much smaller lake has recently undergone a dramatic change from being anornamental duck pond with some very large fish: it has now been made into anenvironmentally friendly lake with areas of marginal plants and a boardwalk.

There were large areas of amenity grassland which was kept short and offered verylittle to wildlife. The Park hosts a variety of sports throughout the year in the wide openareas, south of London Zoo, east of the Broadwalk on Gloucester and CumberlandGreens, with another area, Marylebone Green, bordering the Park’s southern boundary.There is a small wooded area, ‘Leaf Yard Wood’, which was once part of the garden tothe large but now demolished Holford House. The wood is not open to the public excepton certain occasions: such as on April 30th 2011 when a Wryneck - the second Parkrecord - spent a day there; and again on September 21st 2014 when the Park’s firstYellow-browed Warbler spent the afternoon there.

My work, projects and observations in the ParkI joined The Royal Parks in 1977 as one of two assistants to the Senior Wildlife Officerin Regent’s Park. At that time part of our duties involved looking after the Park'sornamental waterfowl, collecting and hatching their eggs and rearing ducklings, goslingsand cygnets. In the autumn some of these juvenile birds were then swapped withaviculturists to help create what was at that time the best free-to-view collection in theUnited Kingdom with at least 90 species. Unfortunately the breeding has ceased butthere is still a small collection of ducks and geese in the northeast arm of the lake. Thepresence of this collection has helped to attract other species of waterfowl that wouldnot normally be expected on a park lake in the middle of the city. Species such asGadwall, Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Wigeon - once nervy but regular visitors - arenow reasonably tame, with the Shovelers feeding within two metres of people walkingaround the edge of the lake. Of the scarcer visitors that have turned up, we have hadRing-necked Duck (1978), Lesser Scaup (2003), a Greater Scaup that spent 15 years withthe Scaup in the collection, Goosander, and a Smew that spent two winters with thebirds in the collection. A drake Garganey summered with the birds in the collection,

WHERE TO FIND BIRDS IN THE REGENT’S PARK

Editorial note:Some records mentioned inthis paper are new to theLNHS and have not thereforeappeared in earlier LBRs.

222 LONDON B IRD REPORT NO. 80

Common Scoter; this pair spenta few minutes on the lake inmid-April 2015 before arowing-boat came too close forcomfort. (Tony Duckett)

Below left: Common Snipe; this is one of four birds that dropped down into the Rail Ditchat the end of December 2010. Below right: Water Rail; this caged feeder allows the birdsto feed without being disturbed by other birds. (Tony Duckett)

going into eclipse plumagebefore departing; he evenreturned the following year fora much shorter stay. The mostsurprising visitor in recentyears was a pair of CommonScoter that dropped down on to the lake one sunny morning, April 12th 2015.

In 1980 I became the Senior Wildlife Officer and with my interests in birds and natureI started improving areas of the Park that either came under my control or that I feltoffered the potential for encouraging more species into the Park. I was very lucky thatthe Park's management teams over the years have believed in me and my ideas that atthe time went against much of how the Park was maintained. The areas that I targetedwere normally in fenced-off areas with no public access, such as the LongbridgeSanctuary, Leaf Yard Wood, Cricket Pen, Wetland Pen and Chat Enclosure. These areasmay have no public access but they are either quite open, or have plenty of gaps thatallow easy viewing, or have a particular area (sun trap) on their edge that attracts birds.

I was able to have the mowing relaxed in areas bordering the sports pitches. We nowhave rough grassland linking the enclosed areas; this allows invertebrates, smallmammals and amphibians the opportunity to spread into areas they would otherwisenever have reached. Before this Kestrels had ceased breeding in the Park, largely dueto the demise of the House Sparrow and the fact that there was no alternative foodsupply. The rough grassland areas have over time been colonised by insects, some smallmammals and amphibians. This has resulted in the Park now hosting two pairs of Kestreland one pair of Little Owls.

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Above left: This is one of two Kestrel nest boxes that are successfully used in the Park.Above right: Little Owl; a pair have been breeding in the Park since 2007 and winter in anarea of the Park where the male was first seen in 2003. (Tony Duckett)

Certain species of shrubs and trees were planted with the hope of enticing particularspecies of birds: alder and silver birch for Siskin and Lesser Redpoll; gorse out on theopen spaces with the intention of attracting Stonechats. This bird was a scarce visitorto the Park, but now the ‘Chat Bushes’ (area shown on Bird Sightings Guide map) attractthem annually.

In the past 13 years several small reedbeds have been constructed. The earlier oneswere quite small, not very long, narrow, and positioned behind sheet piling. The Park'smanagement were concerned that, because of the vigorous nature of phragmites, theymight spread too much. This has not been the case and we have made bigger and betterones since at the northwest end of the lake. Our first substantial reed bed wasconstructed where the boathouse once stood (now on the opposite side of the lakes).The cost of constructing these beds has meant that the work is often spread over acouple of years. This first one has a section of reeds cut down every autumn in the hopeof attracting Water Rails, which until this reedbed’s construction had only beenrecorded twice before. They are almost annual now with up to three birds wintering;the occasional bird turns up also in the Wetland Pen but viewing is restricted.

These next two areas are to the north of the Park and are under-watched but wellworth a look. The Regent’s Canal between Charlbert Street Bridge and London Zoo is amixture of mature trees and elm scrub. The sides are quite steep but it does attract avariety of parkland birds, migrants and the odd Kingfisher during the autumn andwinter. To the north of the zoo lies Primrose Hill; habitat-wise it is not the best, butfrom its summit there are fantastic views over the capital. It was a favourite location inthe 1950s and 1960s to watch visible migration over London. The area to the southwestof the view-point and bordering the underground reservoir is reasonably quiet and hassome mature hawthorns and apple trees that attract migrants.

Status of the birdsResident or breedingThe Park supports a healthy population of birds, with 50 species breeding within thePark's boundaries and a couple of others that breed every now and then. There are also

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224 LONDON B IRD REPORT NO. 80

Yellow-legged Gull; birds of varying ages are seen on the lake during the year. (Tony Duckett)

species that breed near by but feed in or over the Park: Peregrine Falcon, Common Ternand Grey Wagtail.

Annual passage migrantsRed Kite, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Common Sandpiper, Whinchat, Stonechat, NorthernWheatear, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher.

VagrantsCory’s Shearwater (recorded in 2016), Gannet, Common Crane, Black Kite, Hoopoe,Wryneck, Melodious Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler.

Birds: when and where to lookBeing slightly further north than most of London’s tourist attractions, the Park givesvisitors the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in the capital. ThePark's position - you would think - is not ideal for attracting migrants; not being close toa river system or the large reservoirs and gravel pits that surround parts of London, werely on birds following the large green parts of the capital. Predominantly in spring,birds fly from southwest London over Richmond Park, WWT Wetland Centre at Barnes,Hyde Park and then over the Park and on towards Hampstead Heath and AlexandraPalace before reaching the Lea Valley and a much richer eco-system. In the autumn itis a reverse of this for our earlier migrants - the warblers, chats, flycatchers, hirundinesand raptors. This changes slightly when it comes to finches and thrushes: these familiestend to head more east to west.

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Osprey. (Tony Duckett)

As with most birding, the first two orthree hours after day-break is normallythe best time to visit. This is when ourpair of Little Owls are slightly easier tosee, particularly when they are feedingtheir young. They frequent the area eastof the Ready Money Drinking Fountain, buthave different roost sites during thewinter period. Birders, some sceptical,are surprised when told that the list ofbirds recorded in the Park stands at animpressive 214 species.

During the winter months a period of cold weather is needed to force the birdswintering in the United Kingdom or even on the continent to move in search of food,without which things can be very quiet in the Park. The Park is well known for itsGrey Herons: this species has been breeding in the Park since 1968 on the twoislands on the main lake. They will take advantage of the mild winters and in someyears will be on eggs in early January. It is worth checking the gulls: four speciesare regular, and Yellow-legged Gulls are seen more frequently than Great Black-backed Gulls. Scarce waterfowl tend to be seen on the quieter part of the lake inthe chained-off section.

The first sign that spring is on the way is when the first Meadow Pipits are seen andheard heading north in early March. Skywatching during the passage periods has shownthat there are on occasions good numbers of raptors passing over London. In March, ondays when there are plenty of warm updrafts, Red Kites from the Chilterns start to moveand are seen a handful of times each year; on these days also, it is possible to see groupsof Common Buzzards in the sky. Peak spring migration runs from early April through tomid-May. Things then slow down when the summer visitors - Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs,Reed Warblers and now almost annually Common Whitethroat - settle down to breed.

We start to see signs of departing passerines in late July with the first fresh-plumagedWillow Warblers and Chiffchaffs turning up. The Park used to turn up Wood Warblersregularly in the autumn but the decline in their population has meant you have to lookreally hard to find any. From August, as well as raptors from the UK, birds from thecontinent boost those numbers with Osprey and Honey Buzzard being recorded annually.

There are times during the autumn, if the weather is favourable, when the truespectacle of migration can be observed. It involves Swallows and House Martins in thehundreds, sometimes thousands, heading south. Looking through binoculars, birds canbe picked up as they approach Primrose Hill in the north; they then drop down,skimming low across the grass of the open spaces before departing to the southwest andover Baker Street.

The Redwings, Fieldfares and finches are the next groups that allow you to witnessmigration as it happens. The first couple of hours after sunrise on a cool crisp morningin late September or early October are the best conditions for seeing this. These birdswill have left continental Europe in the dark and are looking for somewhere to dropdown and feed. In the 1960s, birders such as Ian Wallace would stand on the top of

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226 LONDON B IRD REPORT NO. 80

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50 51Primrose Hill

Camden Town

Regent’s Park bird sightings guide

Cricket Squares

GloucesterGateLondon Zoo

Regent’s ParkStation

Baker StreetStation

HanoverGate

The HubChat

EnclosureLeaf YardWood

BirdNews

TheTriangle

Rail ditchLongbridge

Cricket Pen

Wetland Pen

CumberlandGreen

MaryleboneGreen

English Gardens

YorkBridge

ClarenceGate

BandstandIsland

HeronIsland

ChatBushes

Ready MoneyFountain

Queen Mary’sGardens

ViewPoint

Broadwalk

The map below is an aid for those people who follow @parksbirdlondon on Twitter orwww.regentsparkbirds.blogspot.co.uk. On these two sites, details of bird sightings in thePark are often followed by an area number; for example, Common Redstart in the Chat

Enclosure, area 39. (Courtesy, The Royal Parks)

Primrose Hill, from where you can see more of what is going on over London. I find it isbest to stand in the middle of the Park, possibly by the Hub (café and changing room)looking towards the BT Tower. The movement can be on quite a broad front and stretchacross the width of the Park and beyond. The end of the year can be a quiet period butcold weather can change all that: on January 24th 1978, at least 1,200 Skylarks wereseen heading west - a phenomenon that is never likely to happen again.

How to get here and where to startAs parking can be expensive in the capital, a large number of people visiting the Parkuse public transport. The nearest Tube stations are Baker Street, Regent’s Park andGreat Portland Street. Baker Street is the best station to disembark from, and then aquick five-minute walk north along Baker Street sees you entering the Park throughClarence Gate. Starting from here you can take a circular walk that takes in all of thePark's key areas. Birds can turn up almost anywhere; however there are certain locationsthat are more favoured. This is because they offer the birds a chance to either feed,drink or shelter, but mainly they are in areas to which the public have no access (behindchains or fences). It does not mean that they are hidden; some enclosures can be walkedaround and can be looked into.

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This Kittiwakedropped in duringMarch 2014,spending a coupleof hours on thelake.(Tony Duckett)

A short walkAs we all know, birds can turn up anywhere. What follows is a short walk around thePark that takes in those areas that seem to attract our so-called less-common birds.(Birds that we might label as less common may, however, be common away from centralLondon.) We will start the walk as if you had got off a bus or train and entered the Parkat Clarence Gate.

I am sure that Grey Heron will be the first bird your eyes will be drawn to when youenter the Park at this point. That, and the large gatherings of Coot and Feral Pigeons,are all attracted to this spot for bread and similar types of food handed out by ill-informed members of the public. Grey Heron is a flagship species for the Park and oneof the reasons why we have improved the habitat in some areas around the lake. We willnot dwell here but make our way to Area 9, passing the Bandstand Island (Area 7) whichin spring holds at least 14 pairs of herons, several of which have nests that are almostat eye level and allow you the opportunity to follow the life in the nest, from the pairbonding to when the young eventually leave more than 70 days later.

Area 9Standing here on the edge of the lake, looking towards the Central London Mosque,gives you a chance to scan the lake for less-common species of waterfowl that visitthe Park, eg Wigeon, Teal and Pintail. They are attracted to the area closer to ‘HeronIsland’, opposite (herons first nested here in 1968), as it is far enough away fromhuman activity to allow them to feel more relaxed. It is a good place to see our feralMandarin Ducks and Red-crested Pochards. They both now breed in the Park, numbersincreasing during the winter period to around 90. In spring at least one pair ofCommon Terns arrive, resting on and mating on the posts in the lake. They do notbreed here, choosing to breed at Brent Reservoir (five miles north-west of the Park)but they fish the lake daily until any young have fledged. After heavy showers in May,August or September, it is worth checking the banks of these islands for any CommonSandpipers. At this point it is easier to go through the gulls, looking for something outof the ordinary: Mediterranean Gulls are scarce but Yellow-legged Gulls occur atcertain times of the year. Vagrants seen here include Red-breasted Merganser, LesserScaup, Common Scoter (pair), Kittiwake and Black Tern.

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228 LONDON B IRD REPORT NO. 80

Leaving the lake we head up the hill; the shrubbery on the left behind the fence isvery good for common migrants, and Firecrest is fairly regular here. We then reach theInner Circle, with Queen Mary’s Rose Garden across the road. This walk does not take inthe Rose Garden but - if you have time - it can be worth a look. A European Nightjarspent the day here on May 9th 2010, and it does attract migrants - particularly duringthe autumn when the shrubbery on the western side of the rose wheel can hold thecommoner warblers and the odd Spotted Flycatcher. Follow the Inner Circle to the left,entering the Park at the next entrance. Turn right immediately and follow the path untilyou come to a small enclosure - The Cricket Pen.

Area 31 ‘The Cricket Pen’This was the Park's first small enclosure, with its mixture of trees: pine, birch, alder andhornbeam. At the time it was not planted and fenced for the benefit of the Park'swildlife; this has happened in recent years. Resident parkland birds are drawn to thebird-feeding station that is sited here during the winter: Siskins, Brambling, ReedBunting and Blackcap can sometimes be seen using the feeders. These birds in turnattract one of two pairs of Sparrowhawk that breed in the Park. The blackberry bushes- apart from encouraging Common Whitethroat to breed here - supply plenty of food formigrant warblers particularly during the autumn. Apart from the common species,Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat are seen in small numbers and the trees

Clockwise from top left: Common Whitethroat. Common Redstarts find the hedges protectingthe enclosures a great place to look for insects. Whinchats and Stonechats are drawn tothe areas where gorse has been planted, particularly the ‘Chat Bushes’. (Tony Duckett)

229 WHERE TO FIND BIRDS IN THE REGENT’S PARK

themselves regularly attract Common Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher and, if youare lucky, Wood Warbler. In the southeast corner of the pen, an elm thicket has proveda draw to resident and passage migrants. It can, if the weather has been bad, provideareas for birds to bathe and drink. In October 2014 the Park's second Yellow-browedWarbler spent 11 days here. The reedbed fringing the nearby island has breeding ReedWarbler, and another pair can be seen or heard by standing by the set of double gateslooking into Area 32 (The Wetland Pen). This area, though not open to the public, hasproduced Green Sandpiper and Jack and Common Snipe as well as Water Rail.

Leave Area 31 by following the path round the end of the lake and cutting across thearea of rough grassland, avoiding the wildflower patches. There are a couple of large gorsebushes (The Chat Bushes) that were planted to attract our rarest chats, the Whinchat andStonechat. I am pleased to say that they are both now regularly found here.

Now we will head for the Hub (café and sports changing room) in area 37; this is a goodplace for some refreshments but mainly (weather permitting) a great place to scan theskies for diurnal bird movements, particularly during the autumn when large numbers ofSwallows pass overhead. It is also a good spot for raptor-watching as you have 360-degreeviews. The sports fields close to the hub, particularly the Cricket Squares, is the bestlocation for seeing Northern Wheatears, and occasionally wagtails and pipits. The lattertwo groups tend to move on quickly due to the disturbance from people and dogs.

Clockwise from top left: Sometimes hard to see, the Park's second Yellow-browed Warblerwas present for 11 days in October 2014. Pied Flycatchers in spring are very scarce, butautumn normally sees at least three birds turn up. Firecrest; this was one of up to fourbirds that were present during the winter of 2015-16. At the end of April 2011 thisWryneck was the last thing I was expecting to find in the Leaf Yard Wood. (Tony Duckett)

230 LONDON B IRD REPORT NO. 80

Area 39 ‘Chat Enclosure’Once refreshed, walk northwest to the small enclosure that was once part of a tennis andgolf school. The area was left to regenerate and, over the past six years, has turned intoa great place to see virtually all of the Park's top passerines: Tree Pipit, Whinchat,Common Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, and Pied and Spotted Flycatcher.On September 29th 2016 the Park's third Yellow-browed Warbler spent two days in thearea. There is a small drinking pool that helps draw the birds in, plus the fruit fromblackberry bushes and the insects on the coppiced willows and the tall lime trees that arein and adjacent to the enclosure. There is an avenue of small fruit trees on the westernedge that attract good numbers of thrushes during the autumn, sometimes joined byRedwings and Fieldfares, and on more than one occasion Ring Ouzels have been with them.

Area 40 & 41 ‘Leaf Yard Wood’A short walk west brings you to area 40 and 41 (Leaf Yard Wood), not open to the publicbut once a top spot for migrants. It attracts a similar range of species to the ‘ChatEnclosure’ but being an area of mainly mature trees it can be harder to see the birds.Just before dawn or at dusk there is a chance of seeing and hearing Tawny Owls, andduring the winter Woodcock can sometimes be seen leaving the shelter of the wood tofeed in the rough grassland. There is a holm oak by the fence that regularly attractsFirecrests, with at least four birds being seen here in 2015. The open area with somesmall clumps of gorse can be good for migrants, feeding in the scrub by the fence. It isimportant that you stand back and watch, as that way you will not disturb the birds andthey will come out in the open. As it is fairly sheltered and gets the early morning sunit is a favourite area for Spotted Flycatchers in the autumn.

Area 2 & 3We then make our way to areas 2 and 3, Hanover Bridges and the Park’s main areas ofreedbed. The reedbed viewed just before you start to cross the first of the two bridges inearly autumn has a cut area that has enabled visiting birders the chance to view up tothree Water Rails. These birds are attracted to a feeding station that is positioned in theRail Ditch if the weather takes a turn for the worse. In spring if you cross the first bridgeand sit on the benches that are behind a small reedbed you will be rewarded with fantasticviews of singing male Reed Warblers. At least ten pairs breed in the Park, and until theestablishing of the reedbeds the species was just a passage migrant. From this vantagepoint you can watch the passage of hirundines, pipits and wagtails in spring and autumn.The more you visit, the greater the chance of something more exceptional, eg Osprey,Hobby, Whimbrel or Greenshank - all these have been seen from here in the past.

From here it is a short walk back along the edge of the lake to Clarence Gate and yourstarting point. On the way you will pass another reedbed; as well as breeding ReedWarbler, this hosted a pair of Sedge Warblers in 2015, though proof of a new breedingbird for the Park was not confirmed. Another scarce breeder, the Reed Bunting, has bredhere in the past. Always keep an eye out as you walk alongside the lake: a Black Ternonce spent several hours hawking insects over the lake. Kittiwakes have dropped in ona couple occasions and, while counting Red-crested Pochard in 2015, I observed a pairof Common Scoter drop in for a few minutes. You will pass the western side of the

231 WHERE TO FIND BIRDS IN THE REGENT’S PARK

Earliest Summer visitors Latest30/04/2006 Honey Buzzard 02/10/200023/03/1996 Osprey 22/09/201024/03/2010 Hobby 02/11/199528/03/1985 Common Sandpiper 18/11/200410/05/1966 Black Tern 15/09/199408/05/1978 Sandwich Tern 02/10/198622/04/1995 Common Tern 12/10/199524/04/2006 Arctic Tern 01/09/199405/04/1982 Turtle Dove 05/11/198108/04/2011 Cuckoo 10/10/195509/05/2010 Nightjar18/04/2007 Swift 10/10/198515/03/1994 Sand Martin 12/11/198901/04/1993 Swallow 30/11/196816/03/1990 House Martin 10/11/198321/03/1963 Tree Pipit *18/10/201603/04/2004 Yellow Wagtail 09/11/196719/04/1985 Nightingale 30/09/197207/04/2005 Common Redstart 06/10/196015/04/2007 Whinchat 09/10/1980*subsequent to publication year

Earliest Summer Visitors Latest15/03/1961 Wheatear 15/11/199426/03/2007 Ring Ouzel 03/11/200621/04/2013 Grasshopper Warbler 15/10/197304/04/2016* Sedge Warbler 18/09/196813/04/2012 Reed Warbler 06/10/198205/04/2002 Garden Warbler 11/10/198412/04/2016* Lesser Whitethroat 05/10/196709/04/2011 Common Whitethroat 05/10/197816/04/1951 Wood Warbler 18/09/199111/03/1990 Willow Warbler 14/10/198129/04/1966 Spotted Flycatcher 08/10/197609/04/1991 Pied Flycatcher 07/10/1986

Earliest Winter Visitors Latest10/12/1962 Smew 21/05/201030/10/2006 Jack Snipe 29/04/199915/09/1981 Fieldfare 28/04/197815/09/1981 Redwing 31/05/199514/09/1997 Brambling 15/04/196704/09/2015 Siskin 21/04/1984

Table 1. Earliest and latest dates of summer and winter visitors to the Park

Bandstand Island and will once again be able to get good views of several of the GreyHeron nests, particularly during the first five months of the year.

Access & directionsThe Park opens at approximately 5:30am every day of theyear, with Primrose Hill being always open. There areslightly different closing times throughout, which can befound at the entrances or online.

The Regent’s Park is easily reached by road or by tube.Parking on the Park roads is metered, but if visiting at aweekend you can park free of charge on the single yellowlines and meters just north of the Regent’s Canal, but notin the residents’ parking bays. The nearest stations areRegent’s Park, Great Portland Street and Baker Street,the last being closest to the start of the walk. The nearestNetwork Rail station is Marylebone, situated fiveminutes’ walk west of Baker Street station.

Further information:www.regentsparkbirds.blogspot.co.uktwitter @parksbirdlondonhttp://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park

Tony Duckett, 1 St Marks Bridge Lodge, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4SX

Readers may request a Checklist of species seen in the Park from the author.

Two Bearded Tits that hadbeen seen at severalwaterbodies in the Londonarea were seen at the Park inmid-February 2013.(Tony Duckett)